India: Decline in maize production

According to Second Advance Estimates of Production of Foodgrains for 2012-2013 forecast, there is a 3.2% decline in the production of maize from 21.76 million tonnes to 21.06 million tonnes.

"In a globalised and market determined economy, there is always a competing demand on raw materials from different user industries," said Union Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

"At present, there is no such proposal to ban or restrict the export of maize," he said.

"The export of agricultural products depends on various factors including availability of surplus over and above the requirement of buffer stock including strategic reserve, if any, concerns of food security, diplomatic/humanitarian considerations, international demand and supply situation, quality standards in the importing countries, varieties traded and price competitiveness, need to balance between remunerative prices to the growers and availability of agricultural products to common man at affordable prices," said the minister.